Write short notes on the following: Carbon footprint and carbon offsetting

Carbon footprint: A carbon footprint is an estimate of how much carbon is produced to support your lifestyle. Essentially, it measures your impact on the climate based on how much carbon you produce. Factors that contribute to your carbon footprint include travel methods and general home energy usage. Carbon footprints can also be applied on a larger scale to companies, businesses and even countries. The word 'carbon' in the phrase 'carbon footprint' is often used as a short-cut to describe the main greenhouse gases - carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide - in terms of carbon dioxide equivalents. Carbon offsetting: Carbon offsets are used to reduce the amount of carbon that an individual or institution emits into the atmosphere. Carbon offsets work in a financial system where, instead of reducing its own carbon use, a company can comply with emissions caps by purchasing an offset from an independent organization. The organization will then use that money to fund a project that would reduce carbon in the atmosphere. An individual can also engage himself with this system, and similarly pay to offset his or her own personal carbon usage, instead of or in addition to, taking direct measures such as driving less or recycling.